The Rickmansworth Canal Festival is a celebration of canals, the community, and the environment. It takes place on the third weekend of May every year, and attracts over 20,000 people.

The festival features a wide range of activities and attractions, including:

A display of canal boats from across the country
Music and performing arts
Displays and presentations on canal history and culture
Traders selling canal-related goods and services
Food and drink stalls

The festival is a great opportunity to learn about canals, meet other canal enthusiasts, and enjoy a day of fun and entertainment.

Here are some additional details about the festival:

The festival is free to attend.
It is held on the towpath between Stockers Lock and Batchworth, and Music at Batchworth Lock and on the Aquadrome.
The festival is open from 10:30am to 10:30pm on Saturday and from 10:30am to 5:30pm on Sunday.

Festival director David Montague said: “We had a real challenge in terms of financing but managed to get to a break-even budget about a week ago.”

As well as sponsors, and local councils, a Justgiving page took donations from the general public. In the Cost of living crisis, this took longer than normal. The Event organiser added ” normally breaks even by January, but managed to get to a break-even budget about a week ago.”

Entry is free but donations are welcomed. Main festival car park £4 via Stockers Farm Road. Limited Free parking in Rickmansworth town centre.

Saturday May 20

Aquadrome Main Stage

11.15am – Berry Lane Dance Classes – Dance Classes for adults and children
11.30am – CK Theatre School – Theatre school for children and young people
12pm – Festival Opening Ceremony
12.15pm – Blag Youth Theatre – Drama and singing classes for kids from 7-17
12.50pm – Love to Dance – over 50s dance group
1.40pm – Metatrons – Deliciously fuzzy Indie rock from Hitchin
2.35pm – Glass Minds – 6 piece Alt-Rock
3.40pm – Kick Pistol – St Alban’s based alternative rock band
4.45pm – Tumblewood – Country & Americana | Classics & Originals

Evening at the Aquadrome – Hosted by DJ Jarley

6pm – Coley – Performing upbeat covers
7.10pm – Pump Handle Blues Band – Blues, jazz and rock
8.20pm – Shame and Scandal SKA – Reggae and ska covers band
9.30pm – The Four Horsemen – Rock/pop covers
Close 10.30pm

Aquadrome Beer Tent Stage

1.20pm – Chris Lawley & Friends – Traditional Folk
2.10pm & 3.15pm – Rollin’ K.J. Foley – One man Rockabilly blue machine
4.20pm & 17.35pm – Axel La Courte – Instrumental wild, gypsy blues
6.50pm – The Antipoet and Friends – Comedic beat poetry
8pm – More from The Antipoet
9.10pm – And the last bit from The Antipoet (Parental Advisory)
Close 9.30pm

Batchworth Lock Stage – Mellow music in a lovely setting

Festival — people enjoying the music at Batchworth Lock

11.00am – Watford Phoenix Choir – A community choir for everyone
11.50am – Minnie Birch – Acoustic folk pop duo
12.40pm – ZiPP – ZiPP goes solo: highlights from three albums
1.20pm – Abbie Gathard – singer/songwriter
2.10pm – Fluid Love – Karate Disco
3pm – Pluckwits – St Albans based ukelele band
4pm – Callum Granger – Local Americana singer/songwriter
5pm – The Batchworth Buoys – General manager & volunteers from Rickmansworth Waterways Trust singing golden oldies
Close 5.50pm

Environment Field – Open Mic stage 11am to 5pm

Batchworth Sea Scout Arena – access across the bridge from the Tow Path

Flutatious

1pm – Valentine – Indie/pop rock
1.45pm – Ollie Bond – Soft Rock
2.30pm – Magari – Indie Rock
3.15pm – Last Orders – Indie Rock
4.30pm – Glassminds – Alternative Rock
6pm – Flutatious – Psy-folk
Close 7.30pm

Sunday May 21

Aquadrome Main Stage

11.20am – Collective Dance – Local performing arts school
11.45am – Beyond Performing Arts
12.15pm – KSD Street Dance – Kids street dance group based in Northwood
12.50pm – Kings Langley Community Choir Acappella Choir
1.25pm – Barraca Flamenca – Local flamenco dance students
2.15pm – Lou’s Sextet – mainstream jazz, swing, latin & blues
3.10pm – Indie Choir- Indie bangers
4.10pm – Swanvesta Social Club – nine-piece Anglo-Cuban band
Close 5.30pm

Batchworth Lock Stage – Mellow music

11am – Gospel Manna Choir – Gospel singing group
11.50am – Talia – English/American Pop, Spanish and Brazilian
12.40pm – Lemon Tuesday – Local choir
1.20pm – K2 Music Events – Bollywood music
2.10pm – Tom Craven -Acoustic
2.45pm – Lauren Rich – Singer songwriter
3.30pm – The Papersnakes – Singer songwriter duo – originals + some covers
4.20pm – Missing The Ferry – Folk Irish band
Close 5.30pm

Environment Field – open mic stage 11am to 5pm

Batchworth Sea Scout Arena – access across the bridge from the tow path

12pm – Funkmaster Fred – Classic House
1pm – Ben Cox – Disco
2pm – Scott D’Souza – Ibiza Classics
4pm – DJ Chakra – House, Techno and Electronica
Close 6pm

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